The Evolution of Cats - From Ancient Egypt to Today's Pets
How the
accomplished hunter evolved into an iconic cultural figure, as well as the traveler and the dog sitting next to us now.
A cat may
watch birds from a window in the early hours of the day; sleep on
your sofa in the middle of the day; and hunt down a shoelace at night
like she would hunt down food. The combination of being both comfortable and
alert is what makes cats attractive to many people and offers
insight into why they have been companions to us for so long.
Cats played a special role in ancient Egyptian households and in people's
imaginations; however, this is likely not where the story of cat-human
interaction began. Archeological discoveries have shown evidence of an
association between humans and cats for thousands of years. Additionally,
recent studies analyzing ancient DNA are changing our understanding of how cats
became domesticated.
Today's
domestic cat is descended from the African wildcat; however, there remains
disagreement among scientists as to precisely when and where the process of
domestication took place. Domestic cats were held in high regard by ancient
Egyptians and associated with the goddess Bastet. Recent genetic studies
indicate that domestic cats were introduced into Europe from North Africa
approximately 2,000 years ago.
The initial
stage of their relationship occurred prior to the development of the cat
temples in Egypt.
In Chapter 1,
it appears that the initial relationships between humans and felines began in
the early settlements. Humans had stored grains which attracted mice, and the
mice in turn attracted wild cats. Wild cats that were able to kill or deter pest
species from entering the storage areas would provide a benefit to humans.
Also, the settlements provided the wild cats with a reliable food supply. It is
possible that over many years, some of these wild cats became less fearful of
human interaction. While there is still much to learn about exactly how this
relationship was established, this does provide a reasonable account of what
might have occurred.
An
illustration of how a wildcat hunts for food around stored grain at a very
early settlement.
The first
documented burial of a cat with a human being took place approximately 9,500
years ago in Cyprus. This archaeological discovery provides clear evidence of
early interaction between humans and animals. This find indicates that humans
have long had an understanding of the significance of cats as companions.
However, the burial alone cannot determine if the cat was completely
domesticated or if it was the ancestor of today's domestic house cat. The first
report on this burial appeared in Science; the subsequent ancient DNA study in
Science provided additional context regarding the history of cats found in Europe.
That
distinction matters. While a strong bond with humans is linked to
domestication, it is not the same as domestication. Proof of toleration,
feeding, or even burying a wild animal with a human is insufficient to determine
the ancestry of modern pets.
The reasons
as to why cats made a home in the houses of ancient Egyptians
The clearly
visible relationship of cats as working hunters and companion animals can be
seen in Egypt. Cat depictions in tomb art during the New Kingdom period show
them under chairs and next to people. A cat under a chair is shown in an image
in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection; the museum states that the
environment in which cats (and other animals) were kept allowed them to become
pet-like and receive names.
A cat
lying under a chair in an ancient Egyptian household.
Cats can be
found in images depicting both hunting and relaxing activities. One of the most
well-known images of cats can be found on the tomb chapel walls of Nebamun,
where we see Nebamun's cat hunting birds within the marsh. This image provides
the cat with a sense of place that is easily recognizable - close to the
family unit, yet also a skilled and attentive predator. According to the
British Museum's description of this image, the cat is shown catching birds
within the marsh.
The reason why
cats have fit so well into the home is due to their utility. Cats were able to
hunt rodents and small prey; however, they also represented something more than
just pest control. Artists began representing cats in their artwork; people
started keeping them near, and connected their feline characteristics with
safety and other concepts that are important in people's everyday lives.
Bastet; Cat
Mummies; A More Complex History
The cat was
associated with the goddess Bastet, who represented the home and protection.
She may have been depicted as either a cat or as a woman having a cat's head.
One of the most famous examples of her depiction is the Gayer-Anderson cat at
the British Museum, which is an amazing example of a bronze representation.
Reconstruction,
bronze cat in the ancient Egyptian temple
Religious zeal
also influenced the treatment of cats post-mortem. Cat statues and containers
for animal mummies were placed within Bastet-associated offerings. One box in
The Met’s collection, typically described as a cat-mummy box, was designed to
contain a mummified cat and most likely used for cultic purposes.
It's easy to
think of all cat mummies as memorials to their owners' pets. That's a very
simplistic view of the ancient world. Cats were used for many different reasons
(for example, as pets, as working animals, as subjects for art, as sacred
animals, etc.) Animal mummification can also be seen as a way of performing a
ritual. The evidence indicates how much importance cats had gained within
Egyptian society; however, it does not suggest that all cats lived the same
type of existence or shared the same social standing.
How
Domestic Cats Travelled Farther Than North Africa
For many
years, researchers had stated that the history of cats was characterized by two
main waves of movement from the Near East and then another wave that was
associated with ancient Egypt. A new study, published in Nature Ecology &
Evolution, has shown that there is genetic evidence that both ancient Near
Eastern and ancient Egyptian wildcat populations were involved in the creation
of today’s domestic cat.
A newer,
larger genome-wide study has refined the previous findings. This study
indicates that domestic cats did not enter Europe with the arrival of Neolithic
farmers; rather, they may have arrived in Europe from North Africa
approximately two thousand years ago via human migration. The study does not
resolve where specifically the first domestication occurred (i.e., whether it
occurred in Egypt, the Levant, or some other area within the African Wildcat’s
geographical distribution).
Humans
provided cats with opportunities to travel via ports, towns, and trading routes.
On ships and near busy warehouse facilities, cats were able to serve as both
efficient hunters and friendly companions. While it is likely that humans
helped spread cats throughout the world, we do not know exactly how or when
they did so, but we are continuing to learn about these movements through
studies of ancient bones and other artifacts.
Illustrative restoration: A cat on board a trade vessel that sails around the Mediterranean Sea.
The cat’s
travels continued past Europe. There is archaeological and genetic data
indicating that domestic cats had arrived in China around the year 700 AD (CE),
presumably via the Silk Road trade routes. Previous generations of cats that
lived with humans in areas of China were leopard cats, which are a separate
species. Recent research using ancient remains and genomes has documented this
difference. Many centuries later, European ships brought domestic cats to
America. Cat remains from a colonial-era shipwreck provide archaeological
documentation of their travel across the ocean. However, the exact routes and
timing of their migration are yet to be determined.
From
working hunter to today's family pet.
The shift from
pest control to family pet was a slow process. Cats and humans coexisted for
many years in close proximity because there was mutual benefit. Today, most
families have a cat as a companion; however, the cat continues to possess the
same predatory instincts that allowed them to be a successful hunter.
Additionally, the cat’s predatory nature is part of the story of the cat's
relationship with humans. Domestication did not eliminate the cat’s need to
climb, hide, scratch, and pursue prey.
A house cat is watching a feather toy
on a high-up shelf, as if to show off her hunting skills.
The establishment of formal breeds of cats did not occur
until after there had already been a long history of human/cat relationships.
The creation of shows, registries, and selective breeding programs provided
humans with additional avenues for favoring specific physical characteristics.
As genetic research has shown, the modern cat fancy is a relatively recent
phenomenon; most currently recognized breeds have evolved in the past several
decades. An investigation into cat breeds and global population data will
demonstrate how humans influenced cats via selective breeding practices.
The transition
from wild animal to domesticated household pet can be observed in today's home
environment. Although a cat can be named, has its own chair, is part of the
daily routine of the family, and so on, it will also look for a higher vantage
point, a private area to escape from view, and the opportunity to hunt moving
targets. Therefore, even though cats have become accustomed to living with
humans within the confines of our homes, they have not lost all of the
natural instincts that define them as cats.
What can an
old connection tell us about how we keep cats as pets?
The same
instincts that enabled cats to flourish around ancient settlements continue to
influence how cats perceive a home today. A cat-friendly environment accommodates
both cat and owner preferences. Veterinary recommendations include providing
secure resting/hiding locations; high perches; scratching options;
opportunities for play that allow cats to demonstrate predator behaviors; and
consistent, positive experiences with people. Additionally, veterinary
professionals suggest enabling cats to obtain their required resources in a
manner consistent with each cat's unique personality. The American Association
of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and International Society of Feline Medicine
(ISFM) Feline Environmental Needs Guidelines provide specific recommendations.
A home
that is friendly for cats will provide them with areas where they can go up
high (to climb), scrape their claws (to scratch), take cover (to hide), and lie down (to rest).
The guidance
links today's pets to the extensive history of the subject in this article.
Humans didn't transform cats into small humans; rather, they provided space for
a creature with its own senses, behaviors, and limitations. A safe environment
allows a cat to withdraw, climb, investigate, and interact with humans based on
what feels right.
Timeline:
Ancient Egyptian Times To Contemporary Residential Structures
The
history of cats is marked by 7 key events; these events are shown on a timeline
which begins with the first interactions between humans and cats, and ends with the present-day home environment for cats.
Early evidence
of human-cat relationships can be clearly distinguished from the ongoing debate
about the origin of today's domesticated cat.
The most
commonly asked questions are listed below:
Ancient Egyptians were the
first people to keep cats as pets.
In addition to
being a primary source for cat history through archaeological finds, such as
cats living in homes; cat representations in art; and cat worship in ancient
Egyptian religion, there is no consensus among scholars that Egypt is the
exclusive point of origin for the domestic cat. There is still discussion about
where and when cats became domesticated.
Why were cats important in ancient Egypt?
Cats preyed
on pests and cohabitated with humans. During the same period, they came to be
linked with Bastet, goddess of protection, also found in domestic scenes, art, and religious offerings.
How did
cats reach Europe?
Latest
ancient-DNA research has indicated that domestic cats made it to Europe from
North Africa in the companionship of people, about two millennia ago. The
discovery upends an earlier theory that their arrival was linked to farmer
migrations of far older periods.
Why do house cats still act like hunters?
Indoor
living does not remove your cat's natural behaviors of watching, stalking,
chasing, climbing, hiding, and scratching. By providing safe spaces for these
behaviors, creating vertical space, and offering opportunities for play, you
can help make your home fit the needs of the animal living in it.
The cat's
story has not yet ended.
A long journey
has been taken by humans to transition their relationships with animals from
being "wild" creatures that were hunted for food to becoming beloved
members of the family who lounge on our sofas. Over a long and changing
history, cats and people came together as companions. In Egypt, this connection
was particularly clear; it can be seen in many examples of household art, fine
sculpture,e and religious rituals. While modern households differ significantly
from ancient ones, the basic agreement between humans and cats is still largely
the same. Humans provide security and social interaction for cats, while cats
provide a sense of protection and independence.
